We are really talking about two different job roles here:
- DBA - Java Database Developer It is my opinion that the 2nd one is the category that is scarcest in the industry - someone who who likes to program ( and is good at it ), and also has database design ( could be prior dba experience, but doesn't have to be ) experience. An application of significant size needs someone in the role of "Java Database Developer" - someone to interface with the DBA(s), and keep the other developers productive when it comes to the database oriented code. -------------------------------- Considering the Sun Certified Java Programmer Exam? Get JCertify 5.0! http://www.enterprisedeveloper.com/jcertify Eckel, Baldwin, Green, and more --- Tomm Carr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Jason Kilgrow wrote: > > >The first question I would ask you before I try to > answer is: > >"Were you interviewing for a software development > position or a > >database administrator position?" > >This is really a DBA question. > > > I disagree. > > >Developers should have little to do > >with the physical representation of the final > database. I think > >developers should be in on the ground floor of the > logical model of > >the database - HOW will this be used...WHAT are the > requirements. But > >as far as the physical table 1, table 2a, table 2b, > etc. developers > >have no business dabbling in such areas. Why? > Because that's what the > >DBA specializes in doing. > > > Having been a database designer for some years, I > would not normally > allow a DBA to tell me the how to layout the table > design. Most DBAs I > have worked with don't know how to normalize. I am > not being critical. > They don't need to know, that is not their job. > (This is a very > general statement. In many companies, the DBA is > just one of the > designers with extra duties.) > > As the designer, I will determine if a properly > normalized logical > entity requires three tables, five tables or > whatever. As for > "physical" design, the DBA can and should determine > in which tablespace > the tables, indexes, etc. are created and which disk > drive(s) contain > the tablespaces. That is part of his job. > Designing the tables is mine. > > Now, the DBA is responsible for overall database > efficiency and there > are sometimes good efficiency reasons for > denormalizing tables. This is > the only reason I can think of where a DBA can have > any influence on > table design. > > >If this was an interview for a development job, I > would have answered > >that I would leave it to the DBAs unless they're > going to pay me for > >that IN ADDITION to my regular salary. > > > Don't plan on very many database application > developer positions if you > use this ploy. I certainly would not hire you. > > >In fact, I DID have an interview question similar > to this last > >summer. And, I answered it just that way. I didn't > get the job. Not > >because I was being a smart-ass but because I was > grossly > >underqualified for their needs. However, the > interviewer did concede > >that it was an inappropriate question and withdrew > it. > > > I don't know the position you were applying for, but > if it involved > working with a database, whether developing an > application accessing an > existing db or designing/maintaining some or all of > the db itself, you > need to know proper normalization techniques at > least to 3nf. If > nothing else, this will help you to "design" good > SQL statements. > > Yes, I know this discussion is off topic on a > Java/Forte list. But I am > sure most Java programmers work with databases. I > will be glad to go > offline if there is not enough general interest. > > Tomm > > > > > > To change your membership options, refer to: > http://www.sys-con.com/java/list.cfm __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com To change your membership options, refer to: http://www.sys-con.com/java/list.cfm
